Amanda users, For the issue below, we have see several hundred thousand emails move through the system system each day. UFSdump is failing because it seems too many files come and go, queries to "continue" but can't get a reply (I don't know of a way anyway).
We tried to switch the problem DLE to gtar - but the estimate phase seems to take hours to run. I haven't set etimeout high enough to get a estimate yet, and this will push actual dumps back by hours. Is there a workaround I can employ, either to get quicker estimates (ok to assume level 0 is the usage of the partition) or get ufsdump to work ? I've recommended we do something to quiess the system, but our mail god hasn't seemed to take any interested in that suggestion. Nor do we currently have a mechanism to snapshot or replicate (rsync, break a mirror, etc) the partition. thanks, Brian ----- Forwarded message from Brian Cuttler <br...@wadsworth.org> ----- Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:37:35 -0400 From: Brian Cuttler <br...@wadsworth.org> To: daver <da...@wadsworth.org>, amanda-users@amanda.org, Chris Knight <kni...@wadsworth.org> Cc: Ivan Auger <ivan.au...@wadsworth.org> Subject: Re: amanda probelm In-Reply-To: <4a818aa0.5070...@wadsworth.org> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.1i Reviewing the issue. Server, Solaris 10x86, Amanda 2.6.1 (with patches) Client, Solaris 9, Amanda 2.4.4 The problem performing level 0 dumps is that there are a large number of files in flux -- its the mailhost system -- so ufsdump eventually asks for help, to continue or quit. There is no help in non-interactive mode, and I don't know if there is a mechanism to get amanda to respond to ufsdump's query. So the level 0 of /usr1 usually fails. Warnings - Dave's suggestion, that the history of the error be more explicite is a good one. Can # amdump report last successful level 0, ie due date, if current level zero fails ? Put it in the notes section or something ? Non-solutions - a snapshot of an open file is an open file. All things being equal, you will get as many open files in a snapshot as in a live system. This will not resolve the problem. Work arounds 1) quiess the mail server for a period of time, force a level 0 of /usr1 during that interval. 2) Quiess mail delivery long enough to snapshot/rsync or break a mirror. Backup the placid copy. 3) Q: will a TAR of the DLE get a backup when ufsdump can not ? 4) "Its not really a problem." By and large each individual message will be backed up "most" of the time, each message is its own file and if its not on the level 0 its on almost all of the level 1 and 2 dumps. What we will lose are the index files, which would probably require a rebuild after a restore anyway, so that are not that important to get only tape. On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 11:13:36AM -0400, daver wrote: > brian checking over all the overdue files systems on curie, I find only > mailserv:/usr1 is truly overdue > > As you mentioned., this may be due to the system being too active. > there are NO warnings, in this regard, with the exception of a "Can't > switch to degraded mode for unknown reason" in amdump > > as we just about never read these amanda files and use the email > generated by the system to notify us of problems, this would seem to be > a significant problem with Amanda. I agree that the developers should > be contacted in this regard. > > as to getting /usr1 backed up. if amanda can't do it, perhaps we need to > consider an alternative. like tar > > > --- Brian R Cuttler brian.cutt...@wadsworth.org Computer Systems Support (v) 518 486-1697 Wadsworth Center (f) 518 473-6384 NYS Department of Health Help Desk 518 473-0773 ----- End forwarded message ----- --- Brian R Cuttler brian.cutt...@wadsworth.org Computer Systems Support (v) 518 486-1697 Wadsworth Center (f) 518 473-6384 NYS Department of Health Help Desk 518 473-0773 IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential or sensitive information which is, or may be, legally privileged or otherwise protected by law from further disclosure. It is intended only for the addressee. If you received this in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, please do not distribute, copy or use it or any attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this from your system. Thank you for your cooperation.